Ambient Mage

I sat down at the dining table near the head of the table where father sat, as for the other side, it was reserved for Ezechs. The lavish dining table we had was away in a dining hall, separate from out large, yet small table.

It sat a few people, Me, Aura, Matthew, Theo, Mother, Father, Uncle Barton, Bolton, and Ezechs.

The table sat far fewer people than the large dining table, but it still had room for a guest.

This is the life of the rich, I guess.

Ezechs was out on another mission, the details of which were obscured, but from my game knowledge, he should be out exterminating monsters corrupted by the demons.

Demonic corruption, a phenomenon based on the corruptive powers of the demons.

The northern parts of the empire were ruled over by the dukes.

We had 2 dukes, one of the east, the Svarmets, and the duke of the west, the Kinsters.

Both families had amicable relations, but with distance, and little relation to each other outside of the court, communication was often little to none.

Both duchies' had their own economy, separate to the empire, but dependent.

The Kinster's had two siblings. Both were ready to take on the role of the master of the family if needed, but neither fought each other. They were only competing in achievements, and would only fight that way.

The successor would be named by the former master, in a unbiased method they had.

The siblings in game were both frigid, but not disagreeable people.

They also never fought, which Nyx studios was called out for, since it brought some people out of the immersion of the game.

Overall they were the most mature youth in the game, composed and yet understanding people.

The elder sister, was much like Ezechs in game, a frigid interior who you could break with enough time.

The younger brother, was much the same, the only difference was the sibling you fought to obtain the other.

The Kinster's in all their peculiarity, had a rule.

Whichever person had been asked for the hand in marriage, had to fight all the members in the Kinster family of the opposite sex.

For example if I wished to marry the elder sister, I would have to fight the brother, father, and male elders.

If I tried to marry the brother, I would have to fight the sister, mother, and female elders.

Although if I did that, I may end up having to fight the male ones, and the people from the Svarmet duchy too.

Anyways, Ezechs probably wasn't going to arrive, he was rarely seen in game, and to melt his cold exterior you almost had to focus unitarily on just finding and raising his companion rank.

It was a rough experience most female, and some male players struggled through.

If I had to describe trying to romance any of the Ducal or Marquesan youth, it would be like the dark souls of the romance part of the game.

As for romancing any adults in nobility, it was near impossibility.

No self respecting noble would go through divorce.

It was possible to become their lover, but that would risk antagonizing their spouse, so no one really tried it.

"I guess Ezechs isn't coming again."

"Come on Theo, don't say that, he's doing important things right now."

"Yes, mom."

"I would retract that statement honey."

"I wouldn't count him out yet mom."

Dad and I stared at each other.

We could both sense the feeling of death approaching the duchy.

The master of Winterfall. Monster's bane. The first knight of the Duchy.

Ezechs Svarmet, was coming.

"Stephen, I can feel his mana."

"I can feel it too now."

"Mother, father what are you talking about?"

Aura was confused. These monsters of people could feel his mana all the way outside of the mansions outskirts.

"Aura, his mana is rampaging right now."

"It's not anything that could hurt him, but rather I think its his way of protecting himself while not thinking about it."

We all put down our cutlery.

"He's crossed into the main mansion area."

"I'll go escort him in."

"No, Aura, you will not."

"Barton, take Lucas, and get my son inside."

"And for god's sake, tell him to wash before he comes in."

"Yes, madam."

And that's how I was sent out into the mansion's periphery to await the Ezechs I had only seen in game.

The flowers in the garden had started to freeze over.

Time for me to start my thing.

I let my mana out and began to empower the surroundings.

The flowers stuck in limbo, between dying and blooming.

As Ezechs got closer, the withering seemed to get better, and the cold seemed less bitter.

Maybe I was just getting colder, and couldn't feel my toes.

Who knows?

Soon, he had walked up past the periphery.

He slowly made his way to us.

I looked at Uncle Barton.

He was staring at Ezechs like watching a once in a lifetime view.

Perhaps for the duchy, that statement wasn't that far out there.

Ezechs was within my immediate ambient mana.

Barton began to speak up, but was abruptly cut off by Ezechs.

"So, it's you who has been appointed as my sister's knight."

"Yes, young master."

I bowed.

With that Ezechs pushed past me and began in the direction of the mansion, no longer leaving the withering trail of plants.

"Don't take it personally Lucas. Ezechs didn't really mean that."

"It's okay, I know Ezechs is just a teddy bear, who can't explain his feelings."

"And how did you come to that conclusion?"

Uncle probably felt relieved I didn't hold it against Ezechs, but was most likely confused about how I knew of Ezechs personality and actions.

"Well I'll explain later, but for now I'll explain one thing."

"He sized me up, not to discourage me, but to protect Aura properly."

"And as for the reason he pushed past me is that he can't wait to see Theo and Aura, and yes Matthew too, but he can't express it out loud, and is bad at using manners like 'please move'."

"Wow. Lucas you are either quite observant, or simply clairvoyant."

"Who knows?"

"Anyways, Uncle you should catch up to him to let him know to wash up, before he barges into the dining hall."

"Oh shoot."

With that Uncle left me behind to bring the news to the family.

I need do a few things once I returned to the academy, but they could take a backseat for a while.

I walked into the family room.

"Where is Ezechs?"

"Gone to get changed."

"Barton got convinced him this time huh?"

"I'm not so sure it was Barton, so much as it was Lucas' existence at this lunch."

"Maybe. Are you ever going to explain that comment about Aura and I being similar?"

"Oh yes. Remember last night when you said 'Nyx above'?"

"Yes?"

"Well when Aura did it this morning when Matthew and Lucas were doing their name thing, Aura's tone was the same as yours, and I guess the absurdity of it made us both laugh."

"And how is it absurd exactly, she's our daughter."

"And that's exactly it. It's uncanny just how close your tone and mannerisms are despite her being our child."

"She looks and acts just like you, if it weren't for the fact I know I put her in you, I might be inclined to believe she was your clone or self made child."

"Gross dad."

"Father, I did not need that picture in my mind.

Bolton and I shied away from that odd conversation.

"Stephen, have a little decorum, not in front of the kids."

"What? The youngest is 16, and he hasn't even said anything."

"That's because you shocked him with those words."

"Lucas and Bolton are turned away, and Aura and Matthew are recoiling."

"Therefore no more speaking of this in public."

"So, I can talk about this in private?"

"Of course dummy, I'm your wife."

"Right."

He rubbed the back of his head.

Sometimes I wonder how they even got together.

I guess Aura must've been reading my mind, because she spoke up.

"Why are the two of you like this, how did you even marry like this."

"I beat your mother."

"I beat your father."

"Huh?" X 5

Everyone aside from the parents at the table exclaimed.

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Mom?"

"Master, you shouldn't say things like that."

"Father!"

Everyone's voices rang out one after another, Aura, Theo, Bolton, and Matthew.

"HAHA"

"It's okay Theo."

"Don't just ignore me, what the hell does that mean?"

"Father, stop laughing explain this madness."

This was nice.

A lively table of people.

Chunk.

"Young master Ezechs has arrived."

"Thank you Barton."

"Meh, who cares, I haven't seen Ezechs in years, get over here Uncle, Father's gone mad."

"I'm sure he has."

"Hey, Barton, what the hell does that mean?"

Step.

Step.

Silence.

Ezechs walked in, and all our eyes were on him.

"Come, sit down Ezechs."

Mother spoke first, but it was clear the atmosphere, and not the one with mana, was subdued.

He began to leave, as I sensed that he understood what his presence did.

But before it could happen I grabbed his seat and threw it at him.

Looks of shock came towards me for such an act.

But I was smiling the entire time.

"Lucas-"

All I did was point at Ezechs, holding the chair by one leg.

"You've got a seat now, might as well sit down."

I laughed to ease the commotion.

With that Ezechs joined the table and rounded out the lunch to an even 8 people.

Even with that, the room was still a little dim.

"So, Ezechs, what did you-"

Okay. This was going to disintegrate soon.

Gotta be smart here.

"Did you guys know Ezechs brought gifts?"

As he always did, Ezechs brought gifts for everyone before his return home.

This was enough to completely pacify Mother, Aura, and Theo.

Father was feeling a whole lot better about the mood.

But Matthew was still scrutinizing his older brother.

"Hey Ezechs, sit tight I'll get Lucy to grab them."

With that I summoned Lucy and told her where the items were located.

"Captain, how did you know where they were stored?"

He bore down on me.

"Well, I read records of your previous 'outings' and realized you always brought gifts for the kids, and sometimes your parents."

"You only brought back with you a satchel, so it was easy to assume you carried a spatial pocket inside."

"It's possible you have a better one, or a more convenient pocket, but your duchy given one was missing, and you are the person, from what I've gathered to be sentimental, so I guessed that the gifts you had were stored inside that."

Ezechs looked a little surprised.

"Yeah, Lucas has always been good at detective work."

"My big brother has always been the god of investigation, he cured me after all."

"Actually, Ezechs gets regular messages from the duchy every two months Theo."

I rubbed his head.

Now it was Fathers turn to do some questioning.

"And how do you know that?"

"Plain paper sealed by you? Every 2 months without fail? And it has the head of houses seal?"

"Who else would it go to if not Ezechs, there aren't any court documents, or documents moving between houses currently."

"And you know that how?"

"Because the maids always gossip, and the balls we attend or host have little to do with making or destroying trade between territories, or other business."

"You really are quite observant."

Ezechs spoke.

"And you act just like the Duke from the old records."

"No, I don't."

"He does not."

That got a snicker out of Bolton.

And then everyone outside of the duke and Ezechs laughed, especially mother.

"Maybe me marrying you stopped you from being so frigid honey."

"No, I can be frigid."

"Sure."

She ruffled his hair.

"Anyways, Ezechs do you have any marriage letters?"

I knew he had a mountain full of letters.

He had shown up even just barely to a ball once when I was 16, when I was still stuck inside the duchy.

Apparently, neither the Duke or Duchess knew of this.

So when Barton, there to only express the family's feelings, found Ezechs all bloodied ready to enter the hall, he worked his own magic and presented Ezechs if only for a few moments, so he could express our family's stance.

But those few moments were enough.

He had the complete attention of all the young ladies there.

He also had the curiosities of most of the young men there too.

He was a relatively unknown person, who had been rumored to be a great swordsman and heir.

However, their time with Ezechs ended, and what became of the ball, ended up spilling over into countless families vying for the attention of the young duke.

"I refuse to believe that someone as observative as you missed the letters."

"Well, it was meant to be a segway, but do you have a particular lady in mind?"

"Well. I have given some thought to this."